WHEN THE RIVERS RUN DRY.....

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Originally Posted by Tombie

But the benefits outweigh costs long term.

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Not really.

When the Great Barrier Reef dies because of the diversion of the "wasted" river flows on Qld's east coast, what will the Greenies say?

When what's left of our fishing industry goes broke because of the loss of the mangroves in the estuaries, and the only fish you can buy in the shops is Basa (Vietnamese Catfish), what will the housewives say?

When the Great Artesian Basin dries up even further than what it is now, what will all the western graziers say?

When all the small towns out west hanging on by the skin of their teeth shut down, because the graziers have left due to the Basin drying up, and now you have to carry everything you need for a trip across the Simpson, all the way from the East Coast (including water and fuel), what are all the 4wdrivers and grey nomads going to say?

The pumping and/or earthworks costs, allied with the evaporation rates out west, makes it even less sensible than allowing politicians to vote on their own wage rises!

If we were really interested in restoring flows to the Murray Darling river system, the first thing we would do is run a backhoe through the Cubby Station evaporation dams.

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Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

If we were really interested in restoring flows to the Murray Darling river system, the first thing we would do is run a backhoe through the Cubby Station evaporation dams.

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Cubby only takes what they are licensed to harvest, when the flood flow reaches a certain height. The Water Board (whatever their name is this week) sold the irrigation licenses. That's who you should be aiming your backhoe at! [bigwhistle]

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Originally Posted by donh54

Not really.

When the Great Barrier Reef dies because of the diversion of the "wasted" river flows on Qld's east coast, what will the Greenies say?

When what's left of our fishing industry goes broke because of the loss of the mangroves in the estuaries, and the only fish you can buy in the shops is Basa (Vietnamese Catfish), what will the housewives say?

When the Great Artesian Basin dries up even further than what it is now, what will all the western graziers say?

When all the small towns out west hanging on by the skin of their teeth shut down, because the graziers have left due to the Basin drying up, and now you have to carry everything you need for a trip across the Simpson, all the way from the East Coast (including water and fuel), what are all the 4wdrivers and grey nomads going to say?

The pumping and/or earthworks costs, allied with the evaporation rates out west, makes it even less sensible than allowing politicians to vote on their own wage rises!

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Obviously you’re not looking at the same study and proposal I did....

Nothing to do with taking all the excess flow, and requires even more be taken into account than just flow out a river...

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Originally Posted by donh54

Cubby only takes what they are licensed to harvest, when the flood flow reaches a certain height. The Water Board (whatever their name is this week) sold the irrigation licenses. That's who you should be aiming your backhoe at! [bigwhistle]

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Why do we even grow cotton in Australia?
Seems silly to me that on the driest continent we grow 1 of the most water hungry crops.
Same goes for rice.

I'm not a farmer but these things just don't make sense to me.

Surely we can at least be efficient with the water we have?

It's like kangaroo, we should be growing & harvesting & promoting Roo meat for humans.
Native animal, environmentally friendly, perfectly adapted to the country & bloody good eating.


Just my thoughts.

Jonesfam

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Originally Posted by jonesfam

Why do we even grow cotton in Australia?
Seems silly to me that on the driest continent we grow 1 of the most water hungry crops.
Same goes for rice.

I'm not a farmer but these things just don't make sense to me.

Surely we can at least be efficient with the water we have?

It's like kangaroo, we should be growing & harvesting & promoting Roo meat for humans.
Native animal, environmentally friendly, perfectly adapted to the country & bloody good eating.


Just my thoughts.

Jonesfam

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The investment in earthworks and pumps etc for the irrigated cotton farms is staggering. Every single drop of water that goes through their system has a cost attached. They don't "waste" any of it - that would be (literally) pouring money down the drain!

Australia is roughly 3 times more efficient at growing cotton than other countries, and a significant portion of that cotton is dryland - not irrigated.

Cotton farming directly employs around 10,000 people in Qld and NSW. (Roughly 3 times the number employed by grazing or cropping enterprises).

Cotton is a major commodity, representing from 30 to 60 percent of the gross value of the total agricultural production in Australian regions where it is grown (source: Australian Grown Cotton Sustainability Report, 2014)

Cotton is one of Australia’s largest rural export earners and helps underpin the viability of more than 152 rural communities.

As far as the Kangaroos go, I totally agree with you. We eat roo at least once a week, sometimes more often.

I am sure a lot of people in Ingham Halifax area with just there nose above water watching there crops destroyed businesses and homes inundated wouldn't mind abit of Herbert river flow diverted but anything Bob Nutter endorses is bound for failure[bighmmm]


AM

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Why do we even grow cotton in Australia?

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It is because cotton is one of the most profitable crops to grow and one of few that can sustain corporate investment.
Back in the 2004 drought when I worked for NSW Agriculture I was tasked by a moron who shall not be named to shift the growers of cotton to other crops mainly to save water.

I duly prepared a lot of projections and held meetings in Moree to show them the benefits of growing oranges among other things.

The meetings went silent when I showed them the projections that they would make no money from oranges for about 4 years and not have a full crop for 5 at least.

There is a BIG difference between an annual cropper and an orchardist.

Similarly projections for growing other stuff was received in the same way.
Cotton is king.
The rule of thumb is that farmers are not silly. They go (and grow) where the money is.

Regards Philip A

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Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

No, not the Midnight Oils, but some of our Australian Rivers , especially the Darling.....................

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I think you mean Hunters & Collectors. [wink11]

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Originally Posted by Tombie

There’s a lot of councils that won’t approve tanks for potable use anymore..

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I know the reasons for it, but I can't help being amused by the fact that what was once considered the best drinking water is now used to flush the toilet.

When I lived in Narrabri in the early 70s, most people had three taps over the kitchen sink: hot, cold and drinking. The drinking water came from a tank.

I believe that some councils make it compulsory to connect the tank to the toilet and optional to connect it to the washing machine.